
86
FRIDAY
March 7
Further Study:
Read The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 208–
211, 465, 466, 524–529, 595–597, 635, 636, 775, 776, 962, 963, 2020,
2021; Ellen G. White, “Give Ye Them to Eat,” pp. 364–380; “Who Is the
Greatest?” pp. 437–438; “The Law of the New Kingdom,” pp. 547–551;
“A Feast at Simon’s House,” pp. 559–565; “By the Sea Once More,”
pp. 809–817, in The Desire of Ages; “John the Beloved,” pp. 539–543, in
The Acts of the Apostles.
“The love of money in the heart of Judas was growing with the exer-
cise of his shrewd abilities. His practical financiering ability, if exer-
cised and enlightened and moulded by the Holy Spirit, would have
been of great service to the little church, and by the sanctification of
his spirit he would have had a clear insight, a correct discernment to
appreciate heavenly things. But worldly policy plans were constantly
cherished by Judas. There was no outbreaking sin on his part, but his
sharp scheming, the selfish, parsimonious spirit that took possession
of him, finally led him to sell his Lord for a small sum of money.”
—Ellen G. White, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1101.
“Judas was with Christ through the entire period of the Saviour’s
public ministry. He had all that Christ could give him. . . . Had he
sought to be a blessing, instead of a questioning, criticizing, selfish
man, the Lord would have used him to advance His kingdom. But
Judas was a speculator. He thought that he could manage the finances
of the church, and by his sharpness in business get gain. He was
divided in heart. He loved the praise of the world. He refused to give
up the world for Christ. He never committed his eternal interests to
Christ. . . . Judas was a religious fraud.”—Ellen G. White,
The SDA
Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 1101, 1102.
Discussion Questions:
● If disciples are followers, are those who follow their own ideas
and programs still disciples? Dwell on that question and your
answer.
● What other models of discipleship under pressure can you
think of, and what lessons can we learn from them?
● While we can find in Peter someone who jumped ahead too
fast, only to stumble and fall, what are the dangers of being too
cautious? In what ways can we go too far the other way? Think
about this and bring some thoughts to class. As you do, think
about your local church as a whole. Is your church too ready to
jump ahead of the Lord, or does it tend to be too timid to follow
the leading of the Lor
d?
What can y
ou do, as a class, to help your
church strike the right balance?
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